Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix

I know for a fact that you need to give small gifts this time of year to all kinds of people (neighbors, coworkers, daycare friends).  I also know for a fact that those people don't want another scented candle.  Trust me on this one.  They don't.  And you also need to keep a little stash of gifts on hand at the house in case an old friend that you forgot about shows up with a present and you don't want to have the "oh thanks, your gift is in the mail" conversation.  This peppermint hot cocoa mix is the key to your holiday success!  It's easy to make, tastes great, and is a wonderful homemade gift.  And for the scented candle fans out there, it smells good, too.  :)

Jake and I, of course, had to taste test the cocoa before putting it online, and we both loved it.  It made Christmas more "real" to sit on the couch sipping hot peppermint cocoa while appreciating our newly decorated Christmas tree (it is only decorated from about 3 feet high and up because of curious little hands!).   With the warm weather this fall, the holidays were super sneaky and showed up before anyone could get into the spirit.   A cup of this, followed by a cup of eggnog, and topped off with some truffles, will leave you in holiday bellyache bliss.  You'll soon find yourself taped up in a mess of wrapping paper and gift tags.

Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix

12 candy canes 3/4 cup white chocolate chips 2 1/2 cups nonfat dry milk powder 1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar 1 cup unsweetened dutch process cocoa powder

Using a food processor, grind the the chocolate chips into a fine powder.  Then do the same for the candy canes.  Mix the powders with all of the rest of the ingredients.  Keep the mix in an airtight container.

To prepare the cocoa, mix 1 cup of hot milk with 1/4 cup of the cocoa mix and stir well.  Obviously, the higher the milk fat, the creamer it will be.

Source: adapted from iVillage